The 20-year-old Saad garnered 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 46 games this season. He paced NHL rookies in plus/minus (plus-17), ranked third in assists and was fifth in points.

This marks the third time in the last six years that a member of the Blackhawks has been nominated for the award, with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane earning nominations in 2007-08 and Kris Versteeg in 2008-09.